Centering device for engine-couplings.



v E. P. KINNE. I CENTERING DEVICE FOR ENGINE couruuss;

' APPLICATION FILED FEB- 2. 1915- 1,192,431. 7 Patented July 25,1916.

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EDMUND r. KINN'IE, 0F ALLIANCE, 'oirro, AssieNoE To AMERICAN STEEL EoUNnEIEs, on NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 012 NEW JERSEY. I

CENTERING DEVICE 'FOR ENGINE-COUPLINGS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J uly 25, 1916.

Application filed February 2, 1916. Serial No. 75,683.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDMUND P. K1N E, a citizen of the United States, residing in Alliance, county of Stark, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Centering Devices for Engine-Couplings, of which the following is a specification. p

My invention relates torailway appliances and particularly to locomotive couplers, and has for its object the provision of novel means for the movement of the coupler to facilitate coupling, the coupler being operable fro-m the side of the cars.

Often when cars are uncoupled from locomotives it is done while the cars and locomotive are on curves, switches, etc., thus causing the coupler on the locomotive to be olf center. When coupling to other cars 1t is necessary that the couplers be in alinement. Formerly this centering was done by a man going between the cars and with his hands moving the couplers into proper position. Such practice resulted in many accidents; consequently legislation has decreed that the couplers be actuated from the side of the car.

The coupler on locomotive tenders is so made and secured thereto that there is very little space in which a centering or controlling mechanism may be applied. My invention covers a device for actuating such a conpler, novel in its connection thereto, and operation thereof; one that is efficient, simple to apply and operate, and economical to manufacture.

The objects of my invention will be apparent from the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 shows the end sill of a locomotive tender carrying a coupler and embodying the centering mechanism of my invention; and Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view showing more in detail the features of my 1nvention.

The numeral 5 designates the end sill of a locomotive tender. Bolted thereto in the usual manner is a pocket or housing 6 carrying a coupler 7 pivotally mounted therein by a pin 8. The pocket 6 is so made'as to permit the coupler to work. Extending longitudinally underneath the housing 6 1s a lever 9 pivotally mounted on an extension of pin 8 and held thereon by a cotter pin 10, or some other suitable fastening, The lever 9 is arranged to extend beyond the end of the housing 6, to underlie the outer end of the coupler 7, and to be fastened thereto by a 7 pin or lug 11. A cotter pin 12 may be employed to hold the end of'the lever 9 in engagement with the pin. The rearward end of the lever 9 extends partially underneath the end sill 5 and is provided with an aperture. Mounted in hangers 13 on sill 5, for longitudinal movementwith respect to said sill and transversely with respect to the tender, is a'rod 11 connected at an intermediate point with the lever 9 by means of a pin 15 engaging the aperture in the rearward end of the lever. Here, too, a cotter pin 16 may beemployed. At the ends of therod 1% I prefer to form shoulders 14 spaced apart. Pivotally mounted on the sill 5 are handles 17 having forked ends 18 adapted to straddle'the ends of the rod 14 between the shoulders 14. I have shown the handles 17 as being straight, but they may be of any convenient form. The forked ends 18 and the spaced shoulders 16 are to permit of movement of the rod 14 independently of the handles when the locomotive and the cars 1ecliupled thereto travel over curves and the The operation of the device is as follows: There being nothing to cause the coupler 7 to center after being uncoupled from a car while on a curve, the coupler will remain in the off-center position. The handles 17, being mounted on the sill 5 near the outer ends thereof, may be grasped by a trainman alongside the tender and moved so as to operate the rod 14 to bring the coupler 7 into.

the desired position. If the coupler is centered and it is desired to couple to a car standing on a curve, the operation of the handle or handles 17 will actuate the rod 11 to move the coupler into the desired position.

It will be observed that I have provided a centering mechanism of great efliciency; one that is simple in construction and application, and one economical to manufacture.

I claim:

1. A. device of the class described, comprising in combination a pocket adapted to be secured to the end sill of a car, a coupler having an apertured shank, a vertical pin for securing said shank pivotally within said pocket, a lever mounted on said pin and connected to said coupler at a point near the head thereof, and a transverse rod engagon said pin by an operator at the side of the car, substantially as described.

I 2. In a device of the class described, the

combination with a housing, a coupler and a pin within said housing, said pin having an extension through the lower Wall of said housing, 'abar, extending longitudinally of said sill and mounted'forlongitudinal movement thereon, a lever underlying said housing and coupler and pivotally mounted on the extension of said pin, said lever being connected at one end tothe'coupler and at the other to the bar, stops on the ends of'said bar, and handles pivoted to said sill and having forked ends adapted to straddle the ends of said bar between said stops, substantially as described.

EDMUND'P. KINNE. Witnesses: I

LAUNA CARLISLE, D. J. PAnDUn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. G. 

